All I Want Is You (18 page)

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Authors: Kayla Perrin

BOOK: All I Want Is You
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Chapter 5
Morning sunshine was gleaming off the bright white landscape outside the oversized window. The light pouring into the room pulled Gabriel from a deep slumber. He'd rested well when he'd finally drifted off to sleep, and as he stretched his body against the mattress, he felt completely renewed.
He glanced at the digital clock on the nightstand. Noting that it was almost nine o'clock in the morning, he smiled. Years earlier, Trey would have had the whole house up at the crack of dawn to see what Santa Claus had brought him. Since he'd become a teen, it took an act of nature to move him from his bed before the noontime hour.
Sitting up, Gabriel leaned his naked torso back against the headboard. He reached for his iPhone and pushed the speed dial to access his only child. Gabriel Whitman the Third answered on the fourth ring, sleep still tinting his words.
“Huh?”
“Merry Christmas!” Gabriel said cheerfully.
“Merry Christmas, Dad,” the boy answered with far less enthusiasm. “What time is it?”
“Time for you to get up out of that bed. I'm sure we both need to get downstairs to run interference between your aunt and your mother.”
Trey laughed. “I hope one of 'em's cooking pancakes and bacon. I'm hungry!”
“You just woke up. How can you be hungry?”
“I was hungry in my sleep.”
“I just bet you were, kiddo! Well, brush your teeth, toss some clothes on, and meet me down in the kitchen.”
“Hey, what did Santa get me for Christmas?” Trey asked smugly. “Is it worth getting up for?”
Gabriel shook his head. “I actually don't think he got you anything. I got a letter from one of the elves, something about you being a spoiled brat and not deserving Christmas this year.”
“I'm thinking that elf was writing about the wrong Gabriel Whitman. He might have been thinking of the other one, Gabriel
Junior.
Like always, Gabriel
the Third
has been perfect this year.”
Gabriel laughed. “Get up, kid!”
“Love you, too, Dad!”
As the line disconnected, Gabriel shook his head. He and his son had a wonderful relationship. Although he and Delores had joint custody, Trey had moved in with him just after his twelfth birthday. Preteen angst had made him difficult to deal with, and Gabriel had decided that a firm paternal hand had been in the boy's best interest. Delores had balked the first few months, finally yielding when Trey's grades had gone up and his disposition had shifted to the right side of pleasant. Now Gabriel balanced Trey wanting to be a teen, doing what teens weren't supposed to be doing, and spending quality time with his mother when the opportunities presented themselves.
As a thought crossed his mind, Gabriel redialed his son.
“I'm up! I swear I am!” Trey said, laughing.
Gabriel laughed with him. “I just had a quick question for you. I was thinking about inviting a friend of mine to the house this afternoon. Will you have a problem with that?”
The kid paused. “What's her name?” Trey asked, smirking into his cell phone.
Gabriel chuckled softly. “Her name's Malisa. Malisa Ivey.”
“The chef? The one with the cooking show?”
“You know her?”
“Who doesn't know her, Dad? She's hot! And she cooks!”
The father laughed again. “I hear she does.”
“Is she cooking Christmas dinner?”
“No, Trey. She's our guest. Your aunt Naomi is cooking dinner. And I'm sure she's already started on it by now.”
“Okay.”
“So you won't mind?”
“No. I think it's cool. I'll get to take a picture with her so I can show the guys at school, right?”
Gabriel shook his head. “Good-bye, Trey!”
“Hey, Dad!”
“Yes?”
“I have a quick question for you. What do you plan to do about Mom? You know she's going to have a problem with your new friend.”
“If you hurry up and get downstairs for breakfast and open your gifts, your mom will be gone by the time Malisa gets here. So get a move on it.”
Trey laughed. “You hope she's gone. I'll pray for you, Dad. In fact, I'm saying my prayers right now!”
As his son disconnected the call, Gabriel thought about his ex-wife's behavior the night before, and he couldn't help but think he might need to say a prayer or two of his own.
 
 
“Merry Christmas! Merry Christmas, everybody!” Malisa chimed as she moved through the family room and into the kitchen. She reached for an empty coffee mug and the decanter of freshly brewed coffee that rested on the center island.
“Merry Christmas, daughter,” her father said as he moved to her side and kissed her cheek.
“Santa got me an iPad!” Baylor gushed, her eyes glued to the digital screen of her new device. “It's so pretty!”
Malisa met her mother's gaze as the woman shook her head.
“It was pretty expensive,” the matriarch muttered, cutting an eye in her husband's direction. “Santa should have known better.”
Malisa laughed. “Santa never did stuff like that for us.”
Her big brother nodded in agreement. “I remember one year all Santa brought us was a bag of oranges. You remember that year, don't you, Anitra?”
Anitra, who had just come into the room, shrugged her shoulders. “You boys got oranges. I got apples. Malisa, you weren't born yet.”
“Y'all didn't have any complaints back then,” Gattis said with a hearty chuckle. “Every one of you got the best of the best for the times.”
Malisa was still grinning from ear to ear as she took a sip of her coffee. Her mother was eyeing her suspiciously.
“Malisa, you look like the cat that caught the canary. What are you cheesing about?”
Anitra interjected without being asked, “That man called. The phone ringing woke me out of a perfectly good sleep. And then, Mama,” she said, her eyebrows raised high, “Malisa put on that syrupy-sweet voice she gets.” Anitra dropped her hands to her hips and mimicked her sister, the pitch to her tone rising. “Gabriel! Merry Christmas! What a surprise!” Anitra tossed her sister a look, amusement painting her expression.
Malisa laughed. “I did not sound like that!”
“Yes, you did,” Baylor interjected. “You sounded desperate.”
“Now, I know I did not sound desperate. I have never been desperate for any man,” Malisa stated, tossing a look of annoyance toward her baby sister.
Anitra continued, “And you know good and well you weren't surprised. You've been waiting for him to call you ever since he left last night. Lord knows what would have happened if you hadn't gotten your phone back. If Gabriel Whitman hadn't called, you would be having a fit. Might even be thinking about poisoning his New Year's cake.”
“What happened to—” their brother Bryson started, joining Malisa at the counter.
Malisa stopped him midsentence, pointing her index finger in his direction. “Do not ask me about that man. All you want is season tickets to the games, and that is not going to happen.”
Bryson smirked, raising his hands as if in surrender. “Sheesh! I was just asking. You don't have to be so sensitive.”
“I'm not sensitive,” Malisa said. “I just will not have you ruining my Christmas Day.”
Their mother interjected. “I was quite impressed with Mr. Whitman. He's an outstanding young man.”
“He'd make you a fine son-in-law, Etta,” Malisa's father said, trying to instigate. A wide grin blessed the senior's face. “Yes, indeed!”
Malisa shook her head. “Please don't start, people! I barely know the man.”
“And what time
are
you planning to see him today?” Anitra asked, much emphasis on the question.
Malisa's family turned to stare in her direction, everyone waiting with bated breath for her to answer.
She shook her head. “I don't recall saying I had plans to see Mr. Whitman any time soon,” she said, trying to sound disinterested.
There was a pregnant pause, and then her siblings and parents all burst out laughing.
“If that's your story, baby girl, you stick with it,” her father said. “It's none of our business anyway.”
“Speak for yourself, Gattis,” Etta stated. She cut her eyes at her daughter. “So, will you be here for dinner tonight or not?” her mother questioned.
Malisa blushed, color filling her cheeks with heat. She shrugged her shoulders. “Gabriel invited me to his house, so I may eat there. I'm not sure yet,” she said.
A wry smile pulled at Miss Etta's lips. The matriarch crossed her arms over her chest as she continued to eye her daughter. She hadn't missed the looks that had passed between Malisa and Gabriel when neither had thought anyone was watching. Every time Malisa had crossed the length of the room, Gabriel's stare had followed her footsteps. Her child had feigned disinterest, but her face had been flush with color, her eyes skirting briefly toward the table each time she stole a glance in the man's direction.
Miss Etta had watched them both with much interest. There was definitely something about Gabriel that she and everyone else had liked. From their brief conversation, she'd gleaned enough information to know that he'd make a good catch for a young woman if she were so inclined. Miss Etta mused that Malisa might actually be so inclined with a little motherly prodding in the right direction. Her smile widened as she nodded her head slowly, a low chuckle easing past her lips.
“My people, my people,” she chorused softly, the rest of the family chuckling among themselves.
“What?” Malisa queried, curious to know what her mother found so amusing.
This time Miss Etta shrugged. “Not a thing,” she said, waving her head from side to side. She set her cup onto the countertop, cutting a quick eye at her husband, who was eyeing his family curiously, just taking it all in. The man could tell exactly what his wife was thinking, and if his daughter didn't, she was surely going to be in for one big surprise.
Malisa looked from one parent to the other, then cleared her throat and changed the subject. “Isn't it Christmas? Don't we have some presents to open?”
Chapter 6
The drive to the Whitman family estate took longer than Malisa anticipated. The roadways were a challenge with the light snow and ice that had come during the night and early morning.
The night before, as her parents' holiday gathering had wound down, her brothers had driven to the restaurant to retrieve her personal items and her fourwheeled vehicle, saving her the trouble of having to do so before going to meet Gabriel.
Malisa was excited at the prospect of seeing the man again. They'd spoken on the telephone for almost an hour before he'd been pulled away by his family. Speaking with him had reminded her of just how much she'd enjoyed his company the night before. It had also brought back the memory of his kiss, his lips still feeling like they were burning against her forehead. She took a deep breath, air catching in her chest at the memory of his touch.
Pulling onto Hilltop Road, Malisa couldn't help but be impressed by the large estate that loomed in the distance. The home was renowned in the Asheville area, having been built by John Sprunt Hill, whose family had been benefactors and board members of the University of North Carolina for over one hundred years. The prestigious patron had founded North Carolina's largest bank and had built the illustrious Carolina Inn in Chapel Hill.
Much had been written in the local newspapers about the renovations the massive Tudor Revival–style home had undergone since Gabriel Whitman had acquired it. Malisa had put a bid in for the catering job when he'd had his housewarming to showcase the meticulous restoration, but she'd been outmaneuvered by an overly enthusiastic new kitchen in the area.
For what the family had asked for, Malisa knew her competition had seriously underestimated his costs for the project. She'd been unwilling to do so, not even for the recognition. At the time, it would not have made for good business, and she'd been too focused on doing what was in her growing company's best interest.
She maneuvered her Ford Expedition into the parking area of the massive driveway and shifted the transmission into park. Stepping out of the vehicle, she took in the views before her. The home sat on seven acres of immaculately manicured land. It looked as if every tree and bush had been perfectly designed to complement the home's stone and stucco façade.
Malisa's attention was drawn to the front of the home and the large front door that had opened. Gabriel stepping out of the entrance, waving excitedly in her direction, made her smile, a full grin blossoming across her face. She waved back, then reached into the backseat of her vehicle for her contribution to her host's holiday meal.
“Merry Christmas!” the man chimed, meeting her midway. He wrapped his arms around her shoulders and gave her a welcoming hug. The soft scent of her perfume tickled his nostrils. He was suddenly distracted, consumed with thoughts of her small waistline, her curves, and the length of leg that stood in fire-engine-red rubber boots.
His grin was wide and full, complementing the deep dimples that filled his dark cheeks. Malisa found herself wanting to linger in the embrace, but she stepped away when a teenaged version of Gabriel stepped out to greet her.
“Hey! I'm Trey,” Gabriel's son said, his enthusiasm painted on his face.
“Hi, Trey. My name's Malisa.”
“I love your show. I watch it all the time,” the young man said excitedly.
Malisa's eyebrows rose as she smiled. “Do you? Well, thank you very much.” She extended the large plate in her hand toward the young man. “I wanted to thank you and your father for inviting me, so I baked you both a cake. It's one of my favorite desserts,” she said as she handed him the covered dish.
Trey bubbled with excitement. “Hey, do you think you and I could take a picture together with it? The guys at school will bust!”
Malisa laughed. Gabriel shook his head.
“Trey, do you think we can let our guest inside the house first? It is cold out here, son.”
Trey nodded, gesturing with his head for Malisa to follow him inside. Gabriel's arm was still wrapped around her shoulders as he guided her into his home.
“This is beautiful,” Malisa said as she took in the expanse of woodwork and ornate details of the home's interior.
“Thank you. I'm very proud of it.”
“You should be. You've done a beautiful job.”
Gabriel nodded, a slight blush blossoming across his cheeks. “Trey and I were back in the family room,” he said, his hand cupping her elbow. He paused for a moment, his voice dropping to a loud whisper. “I hope you won't be uncomfortable, but Trey's mother is still here. She's been saying she's going to leave for the last hour, but we haven't been able to get rid of her.”
Malisa smiled, meeting his gaze. “I'm sure I won't be, as long as I'm not intruding on your time together.”
He shook his head vehemently. “Not at all. It's like I told you over the telephone, she is only here for Trey. We try not to shuffle him back and forth between us over the holidays, so she stayed here last night so she could see him open his presents this morning, but she's headed to her mother's house this afternoon. My sister's been running interference to keep us from killing each other.” He chuckled softly.
Malisa shook her head, wondering what she might be getting herself into. She followed as he led the way to the rear of the home. Stepping through a wide entrance into an expanse of space, Malisa was completely taken by the massive chef's kitchen that sat adjacent to the family room. The off-white cabinetry accented by maple-toned flooring, a coffered ceiling, and top-of-the-line stainless-steel appliances was a dream come true for any cook. Her wide-eyed expression did little to hide her excitement.
“Do you like it?” Gabriel asked as he studied her intently.
“It's divine!” Malisa exclaimed. “How could you not love it?” she said, moving in the direction of the large center island.
The woman standing at the kitchen stove greeted her warmly. “You should have seen what he wanted to put in here,” she said, smiling warmly at Malisa. “It's a good thing he had a great interior designer, thank you very much!” The woman took a slight bow.
Malisa laughed. “Hi, I'm Malisa,” she said, extending her hand to a female version of Gabriel. “And I need to hire you to do some work at my house.”
The other woman nodded. “Anytime, Malisa, and I'm Naomi, Gabriel's little sister. It's nice to finally meet you. Gabriel and Trey have been talking about you all morning. We even watched your show on holiday desserts this morning. I was tempted to try those chocolate bourbon cookies. They looked so easy.”
Trey interjected, holding the cake tray out in front of him, “Malisa made me a cake.”
Gabriel scoffed. “Um, that was made for
us,
thank you very much.”
Trey rolled his eyes skyward. “You say tomato, I say tomahto!”
Naomi took the tray from the boy's hands. “I'm sure this will be better than anything I could have cooked.” The woman peeked beneath the plastic cover. “Mmmm!” she hummed.
Malisa nodded. “It's a seven-layer pineapple cake with a coconut and buttercream frosting,” she said. She met Gabriel's gaze and smiled sweetly.
“When did you have time to whip that little concoction up?” he asked, his own mouth lifting into a wide smile. “I know you were tied up yesterday,” he said smugly.
She returned his smirk. “I baked it this morning after I got your invitation. I didn't want to come emptyhanded.”
Naomi was eyeing the two of them, amusement filling her face at the repartee between her brother and his new friend. There was no denying the attraction between the two as they bantered back and forth.
From the doorway, a loud cough interrupted the laughter. Delores cleared her throat loudly as she made her way into the room. Malisa smiled as the woman's stare wafted from the top of her head to the bottom of her feet and back up again.
Delores moved to Gabriel's side, sliding one arm around his waist as she pressed her other hand to his chest. “Gabriel, aren't you going to introduce me?” she said.
Taking a deep breath, Gabriel stepped out of her grasp, moving to the other side of the island. “Trey, why don't you introduce your mother to my friend?” he said, his eyes meeting Malisa's, an apology shining in his eyes.
Trey moved to the spot his father had just vacated, dropping a heavy arm against his mother's shoulder. Malisa couldn't help but feel as if this were a dance the two men had done many times before.
The boy smiled. “Malisa, this is my mother, Delores Winn. Ma, this is Malisa Ivey.”
Delores lifted the ends of her mouth in a slight smile. She cut her eyes at Gabriel before settling her stare back on Malisa.
“It's very nice to meet you,” Malisa said politely.
There was a pregnant pause, Delores saying nothing for a moment. “Same here,” she finally muttered. “Do you live here in Asheville?” Delores asked, feigning interest.
Malisa nodded. “Asheville is home for me. Do you? Live here, I mean.”
Delores's eyes widened. She ignored Malisa's curiosity, turning her attention to Gabriel. “Well, I guess I'll be leaving. Gabriel, I'll call you and Trey later.” She lifted her hand in a quick wave. “Naomi, hon, I'll give you a call and we'll make plans to get together sometime soon. Okay?”
Delores turned abruptly, almost rushing out the door.
Naomi shook her head, muttering under her breath as she leaned toward Malisa. “Now, she knows damn well she is not going to call me and we are not going to get together. She can pretend we're best buddies if she wants to, but I will hurt her feelings here this afternoon!”
Gabriel shook a finger at his sister. “Be nice, please.” He rested his eyes on Malisa. “Malisa, if you'll excuse me for a minute. Trey, come say good-bye to your mother,” he said, gesturing for the boy to follow his lead.
Trey tossed Malisa a deep smile.
In the distance, Malisa and Naomi could hear the unhappy murmurings between Gabriel and his ex-wife. Clearly, Delores was not happy about Malisa being there.
Naomi laughed loudly. “Ignore her,” she said, not bothering to drop her voice. “That woman will get right on your nerves if you let her.”
“I didn't mean to cause any friction for anyone.”
“You haven't. We're all glad you're here. Me especially. It's been a long time since my brother brought anyone home. I just wish my mother were here to meet you.”
Naomi noted Malisa's confused gaze. “Mom and Pop are traveling through Europe, a twelve-city tour. It was Gabriel's gift to them. They celebrated their fiftieth wedding anniversary this year, and it's the first vacation our father has been willing to take since forever. Mom really wanted to go.”
“That's so exciting,” Malisa responded.
Naomi smiled. “Trust me when I tell you that Gabriel dating someone is even more exciting.”
Malisa laughed. “I don't know if you can define what we're doing as dating. Not yet, anyway.”
Naomi nodded. “Well, if nothing else, him inviting you here for Christmas is a good start.”
Malisa nodded her head in agreement. She liked Gabriel's sister, and his son. She sensed that she and Naomi would soon be fast friends. Her instincts also told her that she and Delores Winn would not be, and from the obvious disagreement still flowing from the front of the family's home, Delores was clearly no fan of hers either.
As if reading her mind, Naomi gestured for her attention. “Don't pay them any mind. This is typical Delores behavior. The woman is never happy, and she is a complete monster when she thinks Gabriel is. None of us can stand the beast!”
Malisa heaved a deep sigh as Naomi quickly changed the subject. “What do you know about making gravy?” she asked as she opened the oven door to peer at the large turkey cooking inside. “'Cause I don't have a clue.”
Malisa laughed. She reached for the apron that Naomi was passing to her. “I think I can do gravy,” she said, turning her attention to what she loved best.
 
 
Gabriel savored the last bite of his pineapple cake, the decadent flavors flooding his taste buds. His eyes rolled skyward as he purred his satisfaction. “Mmmmm . . . this is so good!” he murmured, using his finger to sweep up the last remnants of buttercream icing. As he pulled his finger into his mouth and sucked it slowly, Malisa felt a shimmer of energy cut through her abdomen.
Shaking her head to stall the sensation, she smiled brightly, her smug expression saying that she'd told him so. “I'm glad that you enjoyed it, Mr. Whitman.”
He nodded, meeting her stare with his own intense gaze. “You outdid yourself. I feel very special.”
They sat together in his private office. Gabriel leaned forward in his seat, dropping his saucer to the coffee table before them. Malisa sat at his side, nibbling on a chocolate bourbon ball that she and Naomi had made together.

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